Page 5 of Claimed by the Fallen
“Nice, Tina.” I hear Preston bite out behindus.
“What?” she asks, again. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for that weird-eyedfreak.”
I tuck my chin closer to my chest, wishing to be anywhere buthere.
“Don’t listen to her,” Annie tells me. “She’s justjealous.”
I want to scoff, but I don’t. Annie and I have argued about my eyesbefore.
I have heterochromia, a genetic phenomenon where my eyes are two different colors. Annie always claims my eyes are cool, and that she is jealous of the vibrant blue and mossy brown colors. Not to mention, the one-inch strand of blonde in my otherwise black hair. She calls it chic, but I know Annie is just being nice. Tina is right to call me weird. My eyesarestrange.
“For real,” Joey backs up Annie’s claim. “Tina is an insecure diva. Don’t listen to anything shesays.”
“I know, guys. I’m not upset.” I aim to change the subject. “Let’s go finish taking pictures so I can finally get these contraptions off myfeet.”
Annie laughs, and Joey looks down at the wedges. “I like them,” he says. “Even though they make you almost taller thanme.”
Joey is six feet tall, and I come up to his brow in the wedges. Annie looms over both of us in thestilettos.
“Thanks,” I tell him, still holding hishand.
My best friends and I walk toward the Lee family. Annie’s parents stand in a group of our principal and teachers, chatting amicably withthem.
“Ugh,” Annie groans. “Is it too much to ask that my parents stop talking to my teachers? I mean, I’ve graduated for crying outloud.”
I laugh. The Lees had always taken their daughter’s education very seriously. Annie’s parents were in constant communication with her teachers throughout the schoolyear.
“They’re just being friendly,” I attempt to console my friend as weapproach.
Annie’s parents see us and wave excitedly. When wearrive,
Mr. Lee hugs his daughter, and Mrs. Lee wraps me in her arms, forcing Joey to release my hand as I’m pulledaway.
“Congratulations, baby girl,” she tells me. Mrs. Lee is like a second mom to me. I spent countless nights at her home growingup.
I return her embrace. “Thanks, Mrs.Lee.”
I’m passed to her husband as she turns her attention to Joey. Mr. Lee pats me on the back and steps away. He looks at me and his daughter. “I’m very proud of youtwo.”
“As you should be.” Mr. Cohen appears. He must’ve been in the group of teachers speaking with the Lees. I don’t know how I missed him. “Annette and Veronica are… or should I saywere, my star physicsstudents.”
His praise creates warmth in the center of my chest. Both Annie and I smile shyly and murmur our thanks. My best friend becomes just as tongue-tied when it comes to our attractiveteacher.
“What about me, Mr. C.?” Joey frees himself from Annie’s mom. He wraps an arm over my shoulder and tucks me to his side. “I was your student,too.”
A flash of what looks like annoyance crosses Mr. Cohen’s eyes as he observes Joey’s arm around me. In an instant, the look vanishes. “Yes, Mr. Mestas. You were. Though, I seem to remember you sleeping more than working in myclass.”
Our group laughs. Joey shrugs but keeps his arm around me. I wobble a little from the movement. “Hey, I passed, Mr. C. That’s all I could hopefor.”
Our teacher smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Indeed.”
Mrs. Lee lifts her camera and says, “Girls, Joey. Stand by Mr. Cohen. Let me take apicture.”
I want to object. Taking a photo with a teacher seems weird to me. But Annie and Joey agree before I have the chance to sayanything.
Joey steps to Mr. Cohen’s left as Mr. Lee moves out of the way. I try to follow Annie’s dad, hoping my escape might go unnoticed. Annie catches meimmediately.
Rolling her eyes, my friend grabs my wrist and pulls me back to the group. She shifts over and puts me in between her and Mr.Cohen.
